Most Poles support Polish membership in EU

As many as 81 percent of Poles surveyed are glad that Poland is a member of the European Union.

Photo: Flickr.com/European Parliament

A recent poll by CBOS revealed that 81 percent of Poles are in favour of Polish membership in EU, with only ten percent opposing it.

A total of 52 percent of the respondents believe Polish membership in the EU does not limit the country’s sovereignty.

The number has grown by seven percentage points since November.

However the opinions on European Commission discussing the “rule of law” in Poland are divided. Thirty seven percent of Poles claim that the decision to debate the issue last month was justified, while 36 percent think it was not.

Also 42 percent of those polled believe that the decision was a result of resentment towards the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, and a limited understanding of the situation in Poland by foreign observers.

Only 35 percent claim that the EC decision was brought by following serious concern for the Polish rule of law.

The European Commission last month launched an inquiry into whether Poland is upholding the principle of the rule of law and whether controversial legislation pushed through by the country's new PiS government violates EU standards.

Brussels has said it will work closely with the Venice Commission, which includes experts in constitutional and international law, in assessing developments in Poland.

In December 2015, the governing PiS party passed legal amendments which saw five new judges being elected to the Constitutional Tribunal.

A report by Poland’s Attorney General later said that three amendments to the law related to the Constitutional Tribunal introduced by PiS were unconstitutional.

The Venice Commission will prepare and submit a draft opinion for adoption by the next plenary session on 11-12 March 2016 in Venice. (tf/rg)